Fabricated metal structural member



April 5, 1932.

J. H. DEAN FABRICATED METAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed June 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jenn; James jean April 1932.

Patented Apr. 5, 1932 PATENT caries UNITED STATES JAMES H. DEAN, OF LUDINGTON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES -W. PEARCE; OF

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA FABRIGATED METAL STRUCTURAL LTEMBER Application filed June 16,

This invention relates to improvements in fabricated metal structural members and it consists of the matter hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the ap- 6 pended claims.

5 of the invention.

Another object of the invention is'to provide a member of this kindhaving longitudinal spaced integral arched trusses or strands along its margins, produced by slit- 2 ting and deformingportions thereof out of their normal plane, with the trusses or strands of one margin staggered or offset with respect to those of the other margin vwhereby a transverse strain at any point along the member is amply resisted by a truss or strand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a member of this kind, which may be readily made at a cost competitive with other members now made for a similar purpose, and when so made even from light gage metal is exceedingly strong and rigid and is in deed efficient for the many purposes to which it can be put.

These objects of the invention as well as others, together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings t Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a short piece of a fabricated structural member of H- beam cross section and constituting the preferred form of the invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same.

ing used as a retaining element for wall' 1930. Serial No. 461,326.

board and the like, with respect to the associated studdingupon which said wall board is to be supported.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal detail sectional view as taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.,after a I and materially reinforces theplaster atythis place.

Fig. 7 is a detailsectional view showing a member similar to that of Fig. 1 when used in. .a reinforcing bar in concrete'work.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section. as taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 v

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing a modified form of the invention, having a T-bar cross section.

Fig..1() isaviewinside elevation of a further modified form of the invention having a channel bar cross section.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional View through the member of Fig. 10 as taken onthe line 1111 thereof.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment ofthe invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive of the accompanying drawings 1 indicates as a wholea structural member embodying my invention which isgenerally of an H-bar or beam cross section. Said member is made or fabricated from a strip of fiat stock of the desired gage and width and longitudinally spaced portions of each margin thereof are simultaneously slit and deformed out of the plane of the mid portion or Web 2 to form a plurality of longitudinally spaced arched trusses or strands 3 and 4 respectively, connected at their ends to the web by bonding portions 5. In the fabrication of the member, those portions of the strip which are deformed to provide the trusses or strands are materially stretched and are therefore put under tension whereby they become extremely rigid. In this respectitispointed out that generally the width of the. strands will approximate the thickness of the strip from which the member is formed-so that each strand will be substantially square in cross section.

Of course, the disposition of the arched trusses or strands has quite a bearing upon the stiffness and rigidity of the finished member and in practice I find it best toform the alternate trusses and strands of one margin, upon one side of the member and to form the intermediate ones upon the other side of the member; Furthermore,zI findit best to stagger or ofiset the trusses of one margin with respect to those of the other margins as best illustrated in Figs. 2 and?) whereby any transverse strain imposed at any point along the member is resisted or interrupted by at least one truss or strand.

As shown in the drawings, each bonding portion 5 in one margin of the member is arranged opposite an end portion of the truss or strand in the other margin of said member. If desired, this arrangement may be changed to bring the bonds in one margin directly and centrally opposite the trusses or strands in the other margin, without departing from the spirit of the invention. However, it is pointed out that it is not desired to so arrange said trusses or strands as to bring the bonding portions inone margin of the member opposite those in the other margin because this arrangementwould permit bending of the member in the plane of said bonding portions and could materially decreaset-he rigidity and strength of themember as a whole.

In Fig. 4, I have illustrated a member such as above described, employed as a means by which sheets of wall board or the like dare secured in place to studding 7 In the use of the structural member for this purpose, the vertical margins of the ad acent sheets are disposed, in the grooves asdefined by the trusses or strands 3 and l on both sides of the web 2, the said margins having edge engagement with the web and snugly fitting between the trusses or strands so. as to beheld in the same plane and against any bulging. Staples 8 arearranged to straddle the web and are driven through the wall board sheets into the studding 7. In practicelwith 3/ wall board sheets,the transverse distance be tween the trusses or strandson both sides of the web will approximate that measurement but this measurement of course, can be varied to suit the particular thickness of wall board sheet with which the members are to be ed. To secure the horizontal ns of adi cent sheets together, I employ shorter pieces 1 of such a member and as before describe the trusses or strands thereof engage op osite sides of said sheet margins whereby they are held against springing or bulging so that a good even surface is obtained. Of course, the exposed surface ofthe wall board sheets are covered with a coating 9 of plaster and this encloses the trusses or strands of the said member arranged on that surface of the sheet. Thus those parts of the plaster within the trussesor strands form keys 9 as best shown in Fig. 6 and this taken in connection with the fact that thcstrands along that margin of the member enclosed in the plaster, zig zag back and forth across the joint between the wall sheets provides a joint that is materially reinforced sothat cracking of the plaster along this line is greatly reduced if notient-irely eliminated. It'is also pointed. out that instead of employing staples for the purpose described, ordinary headed lath nails may be substituted therefor with good results.

In Figs. 7 and8, I have shown 1*" as used as a. reinforcing bar in a mass of concrete 10. When so used, it is of course, understood that the member is made of heavier stool: and will have truss members of greater length and height. Preferably the mom ers when used as horizontal reinforcing bars in concrete will be disposed with the web arranged in a perpendicular plane. This. will insure a complete inclos ing of the said member and with no voids as the finer portions of the concrete will effectively pass through the openings as defined by thetrusses and completely fill the same. Such a member whereused as a reinforcing bar in concrete will materially strengthen the same with a considerable saving 'of weight in the reinforced structure. In other words, with my improvedmember used as a reinforcing bar, less metal for the same strength desired is attained. i v V In Fig. 9, I have illustrated the invention as embodied in a structural member having the well lrnown'T-shaped cross section. 1 indicates theinember a wholewhich in cludes a web or'strip 11. one marginal portion of which is deformed from opposite sides to provide the trusses or strands 12. When such a structure is used inconnection with the wall board sheets 6 the free edge of the web is en. gaged wlth the studding 7 and the margins of the wall board sheets 6 are engaged be tween the studdinp; and said trusses or strands. When plaster is applied to that side of the wall board sheets engaged by the trusses or strands, that portion of the plaster filling in the spaces within the trustees form keys in the plaster for the purpose well known. Such a member, of course, will leave the rear surface of wall board sheets in engagement with the studdings, instead of being paced from the same as occurs in con with the member shown in Fig. 5.

10 and 11 show'another modified form of the invention wherein the member 1 therein takes on a 'Q-channel shape cross section. Such a member comprises a web 13 and the trusses or strands 14 are deformed from both margins of said web upon the same side thereof. Such a member which is especially adapted as a runner bar for startingpartia member tion and ceiling work, has the trusses or strands staggered to rigidify the same as a whole as before.

The members described are especially adapted for use in partition made of wall board in sheet form and have advantages over the conventional H and Z type of channels now used because, said members embody less metal without a sacrifice in strength and rigidity and no metallic fabric reinforcing strip is required in the plaster covering the joint between adjacent sheets.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the member embodying my invention, the same is to be considered as illustrative only so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. A structural. member of the kind clescribed embodying therein a web and arched strands connected at their ends to each margin of the Web with their arched portions extending in a plane at right angles from the wide surface planes of said web and the strands of one margin being offset longitudinally of the web with respect to those of the other margin. 7

2. A structural member of the kind described embodying therein a web and arched strands formed integrally from each margin of the web with their arched portions extending in a plane at right angles from the wide surface planes of said web and with the strands of one margin offset longitudinally of the Web with respect to those of the other margins.

3. A structural member of the kind described embodying therein a Web and arched truss like strands stretched in directions perpendicular to the Wide surface planes of the web and formed integrally from each margin of the web.

4. A structural member of the kind described embodying therein a web and truss like strands formed integrally from each margin of the web, with the strands of one margin offset longitudinally of the Web with respect to those of the other margin, each strand being stretched to arch shape at right angles to the face of the web.

5. A structural member of the kind described embodying therein a web having integral strands extending from both margins of the web in planes at substantially right angles to the plane of the web face, with the strands of one margin offset longitudinally of the web with respect to those of the other margin.

6. A structural member of the kind described embodying therein a web having integral strands stretched from both margins of the web in planes at substantially right angles to the plane of the web face, with the I strands of one margin offset longitudinally of the web with respect to those of the other margin.

7. A structural member of the kind described comprising a web and arched truss like strands connected to both margins of the web apices of the arches projecting at substantially right angles fromboth sides thereof, the strands of one margin projecting alternately from both sides of the web and being offsetlongitudinally of the web with respect to those of the other margin.

8. A structural member of the kind described comprising a web and integral truss like strands extending at substantially right angles from both margins of theweb and projecting from both sides thereof, the strands of one margin projecting alternately from both sides of the web and being offset longitudinally of the web with respect to those of the other margin, all of said strands'being stretched strands and under tension.

9. A structural member of the kind described comprising a strip of sheet metal the margins of which are cut at intervals and stretched into arched strand trusses projecting from opposite sides of the strip at substantially right angles to impart to the member the properties that would be imparted by a substantially H-shaped cross section.

10. A structural member of the kind described comprising a strip of sheet metal having portions of its margins slit at intervals, 7

and marginal cut portions, stretched and eX- panded in a direction at right angles to the surface of the sheet metal to provide a channel on each side of the member so as to impart to said member the properties of a member having a substantially H-shaped cross section.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 7th day of June, 1980. I

' JAMES H. DEAN. 

